There is no question that conservative therapy is the best option for those suffering from a repetitive stress injury. From trigger finger syndrome to thoracic outlet syndrome, conservative therapy produces the best results, limited side effects (if any), faster results, and long-lasting relief.
There are many types of conservative treatments that provide a variety of positive benefits to the user. Massage therapy is an excellent conservative treatment that provides good results on its own, and even better results when combined with a stretching and exercise routine.
Massage is used to help relax and lengthen tight and restrictive muscles, break up scar tissue in injured muscles, reduce adhesions in affected tendons at their point of attachment to the muscle or bone, remove toxins from the muscles, and increase general circulation and nutrient supply. to associated tissues. All of these wonderful benefits help overworked muscles to relax and injured muscles to recover. The problem is this. Massage therapy does not correct muscle imbalances that cause repetitive stress injury. Massage therapy can greatly aid the rehabilitation / treatment process, but once a muscle has been injured and atrophied to a significant degree, or a muscle has entered a state of chronic hypertonicity, other therapeutic elements must be added. to the treatment regimen to completely eliminate the repetitive stress injury.
An integral part of treating repetitive stress injuries is the implementation of a stretching and exercise routine specifically designed to create structural integrity and muscle balance where the injury exists. If the injury is tennis elbow, there should be equal force between the elbow and wrist flexors, the elbow and wrist extensors, and the forearm and wrist pronators and supinators. By creating strong, flexible muscles that surround the specific joint, that joint will no longer be highly susceptible to repetitive stress injuries.
The integration of Massage Therapy, stretching, exercises and hydrotherapy is a highly effective treatment protocol for many types of injuries. An example of a treatment sequence for a ‘chronic injury’, regardless of the affected area, should follow these lines:
Hydrotherapy heat – Heat to increase circulation.
to the area, making the soft tissues relaxed and flexible.
Phase I massage – Specific massage treatment
using trigger point release techniques to release muscle and transverse spasms
Friction massage to break adhesions.
Stretch – Stretch too restrictive fabrics
to increase its length and reduce compression of the underlying tissues.
Exercise – Perform strengthening exercises.
for the affected tissues in order to reduce the tensile stress on the injured area,
heals micro-tears and increases healing nutrients in the injured area. Strong
Muscles create stability and prevent future recurrence of micro tears to
a previously affected area.
Phase II massage – Perform light petrissage
and Effleurage towards the heart to eliminate toxins created by suffering
Trigger point release, transverse friction massage, stretching and exercises.
Cold Hydrotherapy – Cool injured tissues
in an elongated position so as not to lose the affected person’s range of motion (ROM)
tissues and to further remove toxins from the area.
Massage therapy and participation in the techniques listed above are very effective in eliminating chronic repetitive stress injuries. Anything on its own is fine, but by implementing several strong conservative techniques, the treatment success rate increases dramatically. Remember, when there are injuries, choose the “conservative alternative.”